With that said, there was nothing stopping someone from walking into a Ludwig Dealer back when the Jazzette was listed in the Catalogs (late 60's, early to mid-70's) and ordering their own version that had a 14 x 18" Bass since the "larger size" was available as a Component Drum.

LVDC

__________________There can be an awful fine line between a rut & a groove............

With that said, there was nothing stopping someone from walking into a Ludwig Dealer back when the Jazzette was listed in the Catalogs (late 60's, early to mid-70's) and ordering their own version that had a 14 x 18" Bass since the "larger size" was available as a Component Drum.

LVDC

Hey,
thanks very much for your answer, helps a lot!
I was just looking at some vintage sets in a German vintage drum shop (www.magicdrum.de) and detected the Jazzette. For some sets the depth was 12"...for one green sparkle Jazzette the bass drum depth was missing...so I was wondering.

Are those made from Mahagoni btw? African Mahagoni...or a completely different wood?

I was just looking at some vintage sets in a German vintage drum shop (www.magicdrum.de) and detected the Jazzette. For some sets the depth was 12"...for one green sparkle Jazzette the bass drum depth was missing...so I was wondering.
Are those made from Mahagoni btw? African Mahagoni...or a completely different wood?

You're welcome Karl!
For the most part, any 1960's Ludwig, with "Classic Shells," should be 3-ply, African Mahogany / Poplar / African Mahogany for the Toms with Maple / Poplar / Maple on the Bass, both types having Rock Maple Re-Rings. In the very late 60's Ludwig did start switching over from Mahogany to Maple, eventually phasing the Mahogany out of the picture.............

With that said, I'm not so sure about the Shells on the Jazzette, which was Ludwig's "Top of the Line Outfit" while it was around............

Below you will see it's Catalog debut, which it made in 1966.
To purists, this configuration, with one of the listed finishes, is the true Jazzette and is probably the most sought after Ludwig Outfit today.
Most "Jazzette" Kit's one comes across were either ordered as individual Drums, kinda like a Kit Builder deal, or pieced together from different Kits over the years.......

The Jazzette remained this way in the Catalogs until around 1974, at that time the description was changed a little reading "High Quality Shells," with a Mahogany Cortex Finish shown. The sizes remained the same but this was the last time that the Jazzette was shown with the 18-inch Bass Drum. The next time it was shown, which I think was the last, was 1978 and by then it was simply a re-named Downbeat (14 x 20, 8 x 12 & 14 x 14,) the 12 x 18 Bass wasn't even listed as a component Drum in 1978. BIG had finally taken over........

Here is the Jazzette as it appeared near the end of it's run, after "stealing" the Downbeat's configuration and kicking it out of the line-up.
Note 6-ply (Maple / Poplar) Uni-Mold Shells, which Ludwig started using around 1976.

LVDC

__________________There can be an awful fine line between a rut & a groove............

They are quite delicious, just wish they didn't take on so much minty green tint as opposed to yellow. If they looked close to like they did when they were brand new it would be my favorite over any other finish.

They are quite delicious, just wish they didn't take on so much minty green tint as opposed to yellow. If they looked close to like they did when they were brand new it would be my favorite over any other finish.

^^That is a catalog picture that came from LVDC.

...White marine pearl has always been my favorite wrap.

From your picture, it looks like the tint is even on all of the drums. I have seen some drums where the fading is blotchy and uneven.

Those silver sparklies of yours are gorgeous, and look like they came out of a time capsule. If I was faced with a choice between those two kits, I would have to get them both.

Barry

__________________
...if you can't keep it civil, at least make it funny.

Thanks Greg! It was one of toughest projects I've done, well, the toughest on my Parts Stash that is. I knew it was rough when I picked it up but also knew that the wrap was in like almost new condition so I had a good base to work with, which is everything.......

My wife's least favorite colour is Blue so when we talk about this set with each other it's known as the "Ugly Kit." Personally it's not my favorite but I dig that it is different than most Kits out there and after all the time I have into it this Outfit & I have become one, so it's now part of the Family.................

Take care my Ludwig friend!!
LVDC

__________________There can be an awful fine line between a rut & a groove............

My '68 Hollywood in Burgundy Sparkle. Not the best photo, taken at a rehearsal this past summer. I've owned 'em since '72 or '73, and they're the only set I've owned until a recent purchase of an electronic set to use for rehearsing.

Nice Lyle, very nice! I always like to see those 1968 Kits that still have their original Cast Logo Double Tom Post, which were only offered for a short time.
I also like to see Kits that still have their original color and are not faded out, harder & harder to find as time passes...............

Thanks for posting it and welcome to Drummer World!!

LVDC

__________________There can be an awful fine line between a rut & a groove............

Thanks much. I'm quite proud of them. After a bit of a layoff from performing, I've gotten back in public with them (never stopped playing them, just wasn't gigging). Only recently through an online forum or two have I learned some of the uniqueness of the set I have. The Burgundy Sparkles were dropped by Ludwig a year or so after these were built, so the color is a little extra 'desirable'. For whatever reason, even tho there were fewer four piece sets made than three piece, the four piece set doesn't seem to be as desirable as the three piece in that color.

These are all '68 drums, all but one was delivered with a clear interior. The 12" tom had a white interior. They were put together as a set right at the time Ludwig was stopping the white interiors. If they needed a 12" tom that had a white interior to complete a set where all the rest were clear, then it was used, not a problem. This past summer I finally got around to have the interior stripped by a drum rebuilder. I did lose the date code as a result, but the serial # shows it's genuineness. In the photo in the first post of these, the 12" looks different, but that was due to camera angle and lighting. In person its very well matched to it's mates.

I played the 70s and a lot of the 80s with no reso' heads for the typical 70s dry sound. The single painted interior always seemed odd, but only last year did I decide to finally make it match. Attached are some before images. In the one image with resos, I have no recollection as to why the reso's have been battered, I probably exchanged heads. That was a Valentine's Day dance ('74?) . I was still in high school, probably couldn't afford heads all the way around, so I recycled. Way before recycling was the 'in' thing to do!! LOL

Hello!!!! I figured this would be the best place to ask this question, being that its a ludwig thread. Whats are the best heads for a classic maple 26in kick? I was thinking that an ambassador smooth white or evans emads would be best but i wanted the opinions of those with more experience.

ASuperSpaceNinja If your looking for that classic 26" Bonham type sound. The Recipe is a coated Emperor on the batter side. And a smooth or coated Ambassador on the reso side. Don't forget the felt strips. This head combo comes straight from Jeff Ocheltree Bonhams drum tech from the 70's